WV Spring Sports Preview

Monty: We’ve Been Up Against It Recently

March 21, 2014

GLEN DALE - Baseball and winning go hand-in-hand at John Marshall High School.

Coach Bob Montgomery said he hopes that tradition continues, not just for the sake of wins and losses for him and his team, but for the school and community.

"Lately, we've taken a little bit of a hit in terms of athletics at John Marshall," Montgomery said. "There are some who think maybe we're not as successful as we should be. We've been up against it a little bit here recently."

Montgomery takes that outlook as a challenge as he enters his 46th season as skipper for the Monarchs. He said he and his team have taken a newfound school motto - "roll pride" - to heart and will put forth an effort that makes the entire John Marshall community proud.

"That is our No. 1 goal," he said. "The community we live in is very supportive, and our guys want to get out there and represent the school and community in good fashion."

Montgomery also hopes that attitude will translate into victories along the way. He said his team has the ingredients to be successful, with the ultimate goal of a state championship serving as motivation.

"We like to think of Charleston as the end of the road, and if we're successful enough, maybe we get there," he said.

The ingredients Montgomery speaks of include eight returning lettermen. While he said final spots weren't yet ironed out, he said seniors contributing include Schuyler Callihan (first and third base); Tanner Filben (third and second base); Cody Frazier (center field); Cory Schubert (left field and third base); Jerreck Waldrum (shortstop and second base); Mett Zelic (right field); and Cambridge-transfer Trevor Hardesty (left field and third base).